Tour Info

UPDATE, 3/12/20: Due to known coronavirus cases in the D.C. area and Senate community, our office is suspending arrangements for D.C. tours at this time. All U.S. Capitol and White House tours have been suspended and the Sergeant at Arms is limiting access to Senate office building to official business only. Please contact the office at 202-224-3753 for questions on previously scheduled tours or meetings.

Senator Merkley’s office can assist in coordinating tours for the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House, Library of Congress and Bureau of Printing and Engraving. You can find more details on these tours below and click the Tour Request Form to submit your request.

The office can also provide you with passes to the Senate Visitor's Gallery to observe business in the Senate chamber when the Senate is in session.

Public tours of the U.S. Capitol Building can also be arranged through the Capitol Visitors Center – commonly referred to as the CVC – Mondays through Saturdays, 8:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Tour passes are required. For more information, or to schedule a tour directly with the CVC, please go to the Capitol Visitor Center’s website.

Tours of the White House typically require 90-day advance notice with submission of security information, but six-month notice is strongly recommended.

The White House advises that constituents submit their request through only one congressional office. Submissions from multiple congressional offices will likely be denied. These self-guided tours occur 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately two weeks in advance of the requested date.

Senator Merkley’s staff encourage White House tour request submissions as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. Due to high demand in the spring and summer seasons, requests are recommended to be submitted with as much advance notice as possible. Oregonians will be notified if the tour has been approved approximately two weeks before the scheduled date of the tour. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation or rescheduling.

Please contact Senator Merkley’s Tour Coordinator at 202-224-3753 or by email at tours@merkley.senate.gov to request a tour of the White House.

*For other questions about the White House tour, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions tab included on the webpage.

Senator Merkley’s office can request reserved tickets for public tours at the Library of Congress. Tours are conducted Mondays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The Library of Congress asks that groups over ten or more make a reservation for a special tour and arrive 15-20 minutes before public tours. For more information about touring the Library visit the Library of Congress website.

Senator Merkley’s office can request reserved tickets for the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Please note reservations are required for school groups. Tours are available Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tickets can also be obtained at the booth on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th St.) free of cost. Tickets are first come first serve. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving is closed weekends and federal holidays. For more information, visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Website.

Senator Merkley’s office can request congressional tours of the Kennedy Center, DC’s center for Performing Arts. Free tours of the Kennedy Center are available to the general public weekdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and weekends, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Congressional tours are available daily at 9:30 a.m. and on weekdays at 4 p.m. Kennedy Center Tours typically last from 1 hour – 1 hour 30 min. After the tour, you would have the opportunity to stay for one of their free Millennium stage concerts, which are offered every day at 6:00 p.m. For more information about Kennedy Center tours, visit their website.